Amid major movie market upheavals, Leone Film Group is still the main Italian distributor of top-notch English-language indie film fare, spanning all genres with titles from directors such as Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
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But while in the past Leone Film Group relied on output deals with U.S. indies, such as Lionsgate and Spielberg’s Amblin, these days “we supply ourselves from whomever has worthy product,” says its head of acquisitions Francesco Polimanti. That includes titles such as recent hit “Civil War,” with Kirsten Dunst, “John Wick 4” with Keanu Reeves as the iconic assassin and the upcoming “Dumb Money.”
Polimanti went on a buying spree in May at Cannes, where he picked up a trio from Black Bear, including Guy Ritchie’s next film, “Wife and Dog,” set in the world of British aristocracy. It marks the fifth Ritchie-directed movie that will go out in Italy through Leone. LFG’s other two titles from Black Bear are an upcoming untitled action-thriller starring Jason Statham, and provocative thriller “I Want Your Sex,” starring Olivia Wilde.
Other standouts in LFG’s upcoming line-up are Will Smith-starrer “Sugar Bandits,” to be directed by Stefano Sollima, from Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios; British indie Embankment Films’ “Sunny Dancer,” starring “The Last of Us” breakout Bella Ramsey as a teenager in remission from cancer; David Mackenzie heist thriller “Fuze,” toplining Aaron Taylor-Johnson, from London-based based outfit Anton; and “Daddio,” the two-hander pairing Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, directed by first-timer Christy Hall, that made a splash at Telluride.
“We handle all kinds of movies, ranging from Pablo Larrain’s ‘Spencer’ to ‘John Wick,’ ” says Polimanti, who adds that Lionsgate’s Keanu Reeves-led action series — incidentally, LFG executive-produced “John Wick 2” — has been a big earner in Italy.
“It’s been exciting to watch them build upon their incredible family legacy,” says Helen Lee-Kim, president of international for Lionsgate’s motion picture group.
Polimanti points out that though the LFG production side is growing, “within the balance of the business, the distribution side still accounts for roughly half of the group’s revenues,” which amounted to €86,6 million ($94.5 million) in 2023.
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In April, Leone and RAI Cinema’s 01 Distribuzione successfully released A24’s “Civil War” theatrically in Italy, marking LFG’s first collaboration with A24 and another in a long line of titles on which they teamed up with RAI Cinema’s 01 Distribution. The film arm of Italian state broadcaster RAI and LFG have been working in tandem on co-releases for more than a decade, so “it feels like we’re a single team,” says Polimanti.
RAI Cinema chief Paolo Del Brocco call their rapport “profitable and productive.”
Among their upcoming Italian releases is Gabriele Muccino’s “Here Now,” starring Elena Kampouris (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3”), as a young Californian named Sophie who, on the last day of her vacation in Sicily, meets a boy with whom she winds up spending a crazy night. Also upcoming on the slate is Paolo Genovese’s comedy “Follemente.” Both “Here Now” and “Follemente” are produced by Lotus.
And last, returning to its roots, LFG will soon re-release the director’s cut of Sergio Leone’s of “Once Upon a Time in America” in a new 4K version.
“Reintroducing this timeless film to the public 40 years after its original release fills me with great pride,” says Andrea Leone, president and CEO of Leone Film Group. “I am confident this re-release will touch the hearts of new generations and rekindle emotions in those who have already loved this film.”
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